Royal Court Theatre and Nica Burns present The Afronauts
Written by Ryan Calais Cameron. Co-directed by Ryan Calais Cameron and Monique Touko.The show
'As long as a man can dream, he can push the limits of what’s possible.'
Zambia, 1964: the space race has a new contender.
As the world’s great powers set their sights on the moon, a schoolteacher gathers a group of misfit dreamers and trains them for lift-off.
The true(ish) story of the Zambian Space Program, and a nation’s defiant dream to reach for the stars. A world premiere from Sky Arts Award-winning playwright Ryan Calais Cameron (For Black Boys, Retrograde).
Ryan Calais Cameron and Monique Touko (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Marie & Rosetta) co-direct an award-winning international cast led by TV, film and stage star Lucian Msamati (Slow Horses, Conclave, Amadeus, Waiting for Godot) and breakthrough talent Ama Qamata (Fight Like a Girl, Netflix's Blood & Water) in her UK stage debut.
Commissioned by the Genesis Foundation through the Genesis Next Generation programme at the Royal Court.
Production support provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology
The company
Contact list of staff members
Ryan Calais Cameron
Monique Touko
Soutra Gilmour
Kinnetia Isidore
Ryan Day
Khalil Madovi
Dick Straker
Kloé Dean
Cynthia De La Rosa
Heather Basten CDG CSA
Kev McCurdy
Joel Trill
Maisie Carter
Gillian Greer
Mwansa Phiri
Saffeya Shebli
Benjamin Persaud
Ella Donaldson
Joyce Lulendo
Danielle Kassaraté
Zara Drohan
Jasmin Meara Wall
John Maddox
Lily Mollgaard
Marcus Hall Props
Lucy Walshaw
John May
Mica Taylor
Julia Reid
Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng
Nikita Bala
Stacey Nurse
Aino Teppo
Jack Farrell
Steven Atkinson
Cast
Lucian Msamati
Ama Qamata
Ivanno Jeremiah
Chomba S. Taulo
Munashe Chirisa
Pamela Nomvete
Lukwesa Mwamba
Prince Kundai
Booking information
Tickets: £15 - £74.50
Concessions available for Over 65s, Equity/BECTU/WGGB, Unwaged
Students and audiences aged 25 and under on all Thursday and Saturday performances.
Monday Tickets:
Monday Tickets at the Royal Court have been legendary since 1979. Every Monday, all tickets are just £15 in both the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and Upstairs.
- Available to book from 9am on the day of the show
- Online only
- Limited number available in advance for Royal Court Friends/Members, Writers Card+ Members & Supporters
Ticket FAQs
Can I get a refund or exchange my ticket?
Refunds are only offered if a performance is cancelled.
If you can’t attend, we can offer:
- An exchange to another performance
- A credit voucher valid for 1 year
Just let us know at least 48 hours before the show.
We do not offer partial refunds. If your chosen price band is sold out for the new date, we’ll match you to the closest available band instead.
Ticket Resale & Reissue
If a show has sold out:
- We’re happy to try and resell your tickets (once all other house tickets are gone)
- If we’re successful, you’ll be issued credit valid for 1 year
- Tickets can’t be resold via unauthorised third-party sellers
Tickets transferred or sold via unauthorised channels may be cancelled without refund, and any Royal Court memberships may be revoked.
To protect everyone from ticket touts, we do not allow the resale, or listing for sale, of our tickets for profit or private, commercial gain. Tickets are sold for use by the buyer and their party. Tickets found to be sold or listed for sale which are in breach of this condition will be cancelled without refund. Anyone presenting these tickets for admission into the event will also be refused entry without refund. For your own peace of mind, please only buy either directly from us or from one of our approved agents.
Ticket Delivery
- We use e-tickets - show them on your phone or tablet. You'll receive them within two days of the performance along with information about the performance.
- Don’t have a device or printer? Let Box Office staff know when you arrive, and we’ll help
Age Guidance
Most shows are suitable for ages 14+, though some may have a higher recommendation. Check the individual production page for guidance.
Fees & Charges
- No booking fees on e-tickets booked directly through us
- All tickets include a £1.50 restoration levy, supporting essential maintenance and upkeep
- Tickets sold for other venues (e.g. West End transfers) may include a booking fee
- Third-party agents may charge additional fees
Your Visit: Theatre Terms
The management reserves the right to:
- Refuse admission or ask audience members to leave
- Deny latecomers entry or delay it until an appropriate break
- Cancel performances due to cast illness or external issues (without liability beyond a refund or exchange)
- Note that trigger warnings and content advisories are listed online and emailed to bookers ahead of the show
Access
Access Performances:
Audio-Described: Sat 5 Dec, 13:30
Captioned: Tue 8 Dec, 19:30
Chilled: Sat 19 Dec, 13:30
Tickets: £15 - £74.50
Concessions available for Student, Under 25s, Over 65s, Members of Equity, BECTU, SDUK, WGGB and Unwaged individuals on certain performances.
Monday Tickets:
Monday Tickets at the Royal Court have been legendary since 1979. Every Monday, all tickets are just £15 in both the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and Upstairs.
- Available to book from 9am on the day of the show
- Online only
- Limited number available in advance for Royal Court Friends/Members, Writers Card+ Members & Supporters
Ticket FAQs
Can I get a refund or exchange my ticket?
Refunds are only offered if a performance is cancelled.
If you can’t attend, we can offer:
- An exchange to another performance
- A credit voucher valid for 1 year
Just let us know at least 48 hours before the show.
We do not offer partial refunds. If your chosen price band is sold out for the new date, we’ll match you to the closest available band instead.
Ticket Resale & Reissue
If a show has sold out:
- We’re happy to try and resell your tickets (once all other house tickets are gone)
- If we’re successful, you’ll be issued credit valid for 1 year
- Tickets can’t be resold via unauthorised third-party sellers
Tickets transferred or sold via unauthorised channels may be cancelled without refund, and any Royal Court memberships may be revoked.
To protect everyone from ticket touts, we do not allow the resale, or listing for sale, of our tickets for profit or private, commercial gain. Tickets are sold for use by the buyer and their party. Tickets found to be sold or listed for sale which are in breach of this condition will be cancelled without refund. Anyone presenting these tickets for admission into the event will also be refused entry without refund. For your own peace of mind, please only buy either directly from us or from one of our approved agents.
Ticket Delivery
- We use e-tickets - show them on your phone or tablet. You'll receive them within two days of the performance along with information about the performance.
- Don’t have a device or printer? Let Box Office staff know when you arrive, and we’ll help
Age Guidance
Most shows are suitable for ages 14+, though some may have a higher recommendation. Check the individual production page for guidance.
Fees & Charges
- No booking fees on e-tickets booked directly through us
- All tickets include a £1.50 restoration levy, supporting essential maintenance and upkeep
- Tickets sold for other venues (e.g. West End transfers) may include a booking fee
- Third-party agents may charge additional fees
Your Visit: Theatre Terms
The management reserves the right to:
- Refuse admission or ask audience members to leave
- Deny latecomers entry or delay it until an appropriate break
- Cancel performances due to cast illness or external issues (without liability beyond a refund or exchange)
- Note that trigger warnings and content advisories are listed online and emailed to bookers ahead of the show